Shrubs or small trees, 1–6 m.Leaves: stipules caducous; petiole 3.2–6.5 mm, glabrous; rachis 4.5–20(–25) cm, gla­brous; pinnae pairs opposite; leaflets jugate, blades elliptic to ovate, (6–)10–22(–25) × 4–10(–12) mm, apex rounded, mucronate. Inflorescences 12–35 cm; bracts oblong, 4.5–7.7 × 1.3–2.6 mm. Pedicels articulate, (2.5–)3–6.2 cm. Flowers: calyx red or yellow, 3–4.8 × 2–3.5 mm, glabrous; abaxial lobes (11–)13–17 × 7.2–10 mm, margins denticulate, lateral lobes ovate, (8.2–)10–13.5 × (4.5–)5.5–8 mm, apex rounded, adaxial lobes oblong to elliptic, (7.5–)8–12.5 × (3.3–)4–6.5 mm; banner with a central scarlet blotch, ovate, (3.5–)4–7(–8.5) × (4.5–)6–10.5 mm, cordate, claw conduplicate, 6–16 mm; abaxial lateral lobes obovate, 10–16 × 9–18.5 mm, claw 5.8–11 mm, adaxial lateral lobes obovate (9–)10–16 × (9–)10.7–17.6 mm, margins crenulate, apex rounded, claw 6–11.5 mm; filaments red, exserted, (2.4–)3.8–7 mm, densely pubescent on basal 1/4; anthers yellow, 1.3–2.5 × 0.9–1.6 mm; ovary falcate, 2–3 × 4.5–6.3 mm; style 4.5–6.3 mm, stigma terminal, porate; ovules 5–12. Fruits red when mature, falcate, (6–)7–9.5 × 1.5–2.1 cm. Seeds brown or olive, 7.4–9.6 × 6–7.3 mm. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Roadsides, thickets.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Fla., Tex., South America, introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands.

Discussion

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is widely cultivated as a gar­den ornamental.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.